This area makes up the west and northwest part of Welling, taking up the western portion of Welling town centre and its High Street, which resides in the postcode sector’s southeast corner. The southern border follows the High Street and the A207 (Bellegrove Road), while the eastern border trails Upper Wickham Lane, which is an offshoot of the High Street and includes more shops. The western and northern borders are flanked by greenery and open space, as well as in general bordering Woolwich. The north borders East Wickham Open Space, while to the west Hillview Cemetery and Shooters Hill dominate the landscape. Indeed, just beyond the postcode sector’s limits is the highest point in South London.

The area itself is primarily suburban housing, dotted with a few schools and small parks. The Southeastern railway line cuts through the area at its southeast corner, which is served by Welling station. Shooters Hill, to the west of North Welling, is probably the oldest inhabited part of Welling, having served as a burial ground since even the Bronze Age. The area has gone through many proposals of development since then – from the pubs of the 18th century (serving the route to Dover), to a proposal to create a spa town out of the area due to the proliferation of springs there (though no such development came of it).

However, perhaps the most amazing thing about Shooters Hill is the development that did not manifest – the area was threatened by housing developments at one point of time, suburban housing having already been established in the surrounding area; it was through the acquisition of land by the London County Council that the green area was preserved for future generations. Woodlands Farm, in particular, still remains a flourishing community with livestock, bordered by ancient hedgerows.

Famous musician Kate Bush grew up in East Wickham Farm, Welling, and stayed there for a period of time even after her rapid rise to success. She has been in the music industry for more than three decades now, releasing he first album in 1978, aged 20.

There is a Russian cannon displayed at Welling Corner, on the High Street, which was in service from 1780 to 1860. It is on loan from the Royal Artillery Museum as a reminder of Welling’s involvement with the Royal Arsenal during the Great War, who’s workers lived in the area.

The workers lived in prefabricated houses (known at the time as ‘hutments’), built rapidly to house the growing number of workers and refugees as a result of the war. The area was known as the East Wickham hutments, and, though they were never meant to be permanent and had many building flaws, they survived not only the Great War, but also the Second World War, and many were only demolished in 1958, when a new housing scheme was approved by Bexley Council.

Some sites in Bexleyheath are said to have issues with crime, with derelict buildings littering the town centre. This has been addressed by the council, which aims to regenerate the area. Bexleyheath is noted in the council’s latest local plan to remain the borough’s strategic shopping and civic centre and ‘the hub of its bus network, enabling a thriving and diverse daytime and night-time economy.’ Bexleyheath is envisaged to profit from over 1,500 new homes and 1,500 new jobs. From May 2021 to October 2022, Bexley Council established their High Streets for All Programme, securing funding from the Mayor of London’s High Streets for All Challenge, to develop and enact a new vision for Bexleyheath Town Centre. The proximity of Bexleyheath to Welling may mean that development interest in the area could increase following the completion of Bexleyheath’s ongoing projects and enhancements.